Vehicle system including a structure in which exhaust heat recovery apparatus is installed

Abstract

An exhaust heat recovery apparatus is installed below a floor supported by both side members of a vehicle to recover heat from exhaust gas passing through an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine. Assistance members, which extend in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, are provided between the both side members of the vehicle. The exhaust heat recovery apparatus is installed close to one of the assistance members.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle system comprising:
 an exhaust heat recovery apparatus that is installed below a floor of a vehicle, the vehicle having an internal combustion engine; 
 a muffler; 
 an exhaust pipe; 
 an outlet pipe that connects the exhaust heat recovery apparatus to the internal combustion engine of the vehicle; and 
 a vehicle structure, the vehicle structure comprising a plurality of support members, wherein the plurality of support members include
 a first support member; 
 a second support member; 
 a first side member; 
 a second side member; 
 a first lateral support member; and 
 a second lateral support member, the first lateral support member and the second lateral support member being provided on both sides of the exhaust heat recovery apparatus in a transverse direction of the vehicle, wherein
 the first support member connects the first lateral support member to the exhaust heat recovery apparatus, 
 the second support member connects the first side member to the muffler, 
 the exhaust heat recovery apparatus is closer to a front of the vehicle than the muffler, and 
 both the first lateral support member and the second lateral support member: i) extend partially in a parallel direction and partially in an oblique direction, with respect to a longitudinal axis defined by the exhaust heat recovery apparatus, and ii) are provided between the first side member and the second side member. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cross member which extends in a transverse direction of the vehicle between the first side member and the second side member, and which supports the floor. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle system according to  claim 2 , wherein one end of at least one of the first lateral support member and the second lateral support member is directly connected to one of the first side member and the second side member, and another end of the at least one of the first lateral support member and the second lateral support member is directly connected to the cross member. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first lateral support member and the second lateral support member are symmetrically provided on the both sides of the exhaust heat recovery apparatus in the transverse direction of the vehicle. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle system according to  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust heat recovery apparatus is directly supported by at least one of the first lateral support member and the second lateral support member. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle system according to  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust heat recovery apparatus is supported by at least one of the first side member and the second side member. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle system according to  claim 2 , wherein the exhaust heat recovery apparatus is supported by the cross member. 
     
     
       8. The vehicle system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the exhaust heat recovery apparatus is positioned closer to one of the first lateral support member and the second lateral support member provided on both sides of the exhaust heat recovery apparatus, than to the other of the first lateral support member and the second lateral support member; and 
 the exhaust heat recovery apparatus is directly supported by the one of the first lateral support member and the second lateral support member. 
 
     
     
       9. The vehicle system according to  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust heat recovery apparatus is installed such that an upper surface of the exhaust heat recovery apparatus is positioned below lower surfaces of the first lateral support member and the second lateral support member, in a vertical direction. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first side member and the second side member are configured to support the exhaust heat recovery apparatus separately from the muffler provided in the exhaust pipe below the floor, to recover heat from exhaust gas passing through the exhaust pipe.